Looking at all the lovely pictures of the Yetis in the snow I saw someone mention Autosocks. I presume on a 4x4 Yeti one can buy two pairs of socks and cover all the wheels? Are they just for emergency use to get you home or a decent enough alternative to winter tyres? I appreciate they might get stolen if you want to keep them on for longer than a single use (and they look silly) but for the amount of times I will drive in the snow it seems a far more sensible option than a full set of extra wheels and winter tyres filling up my shed!

Hi,

depends where your driving; for me winter tyres based on my less than impressed experiences with the 225/50 R17 summer tyres, compared to my previous Golf TDI 4motion on 205/55 R16 summer tyres in winter weather (particularly frost/ice and snow). Do travel around the Yorkshire Wolds though

For the occasional heavy snow fall then a front par of auto socks would probably suffice but they should be removed once your on anything close to tarmac again otherwise you'll shred them.

Regards,

TP

A Yeti 4x4 with decent all seaon tyres driven suitably for the condition will be fine without snowsocks or winter tyres.

Although winter tyres do make a marked improvement over normal tyres, we don't really have enough snow down our way to warrant the extra cost of the tyres. If I was going to travel to the Alps skiing or something I might be inclinded to get a set of snowsocks for the front if the snow got particulary deep and powdery.

I have used winter tyres for the last to winters and think they are tremendous. Get a second set of wheels and put them on for a few months of the year. Apart from the wheel cost, they pay for themselves anyway, as if you are using the winter tyres you aren’t wearing out your regular set. They are excellent on ice and superb in the wet and slush too.

Thanks... Now that I have the Yeti on order I just want to move to the top of a (slippery) mountain. But alas. The Mazda MX-5 certainly won't be sleeping at home then so it might not be a good idea. So perhaps best to stay down here at near sea level in the big smoke... :S

I'll get these autosocks for the next big snow then.

And re Autosocks and tarmac: so if you drive to Switzerland in the winter you can only really put them on once you get stuck! But even so. At least you can still move.

I have just taken the Winter tyres off our Yeti and put the Summer tyres back on.

The "other car" is a Renault Clio. During the Winter the nearside front wheel was destroyed by the car falling into a terrible pot hot (it was dark the hole was immediately around a corner and couldn't be seen/avoided). For a week or so I had 3 winter tyres on the car and one summer tyre. Then the snow came!! Driving uphil to my house in the Clio - with a Summer tyre on one side and a winter tyre on the other was a revelation in the grip you get with Winter tyres!!! The car was basically hauled up the hill by the Winter tyre!

With the Yeti my need is not so much up hill grip ( the 4x4 sorts that out mostly ) but grip is needed going down hill. Even with the off road button - if your tyres don't grip the road - you ain't stoppin!

So - for where I live in the hinterland of Aberdeenshire, Winter tyres are essential. Since I go from a mix of lots of snow to slush/tarmac and back again to snow on a 50-60 mile journey - winter tyres make more sense for me than Snow socks.

Graham

My experiences with snow driving is limited to what little we've had in this country in the last 5 years and when I drove to Nordkapp through Sweden, Norway and Finland.

During the snow earlier this year I was driving a powerful rear wheel drive saloon car with reasonable tread all season tyres and the car was absolutely fine, like someone else said stopping requires changing your driving style somewhat but accelerating and cornering was fine, partly due perhaps to the cars ESP system and limited slip diff.

When I went to Nordkapp I had a Jeep with brand new all terrain tyres that coped perfectly well with the snowy conditions. Although all the locals had snow/winter tyres fitted to the cars. I'm not sure how much better winter tyres would have been,

Although, I have got quite a bit experience with tyres and mud. The difference a good set of tyres can make in wet, sticky mud and very clear and easy to spot, perhaps it's the same in the snow?

How I've longed for a return to the snowc***s thread

I knew it couldn't last!!

John

How I've longed for a return to the snowc***s thread

I knew it couldn't last!!

John

Lady Penelope says "you mean this one "

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/151680-snow-chains/

Edited 12 April, 201016 yr by Lady Penelope

Not tried snowchains...

Start again... I drove through the last winter on the standard Goodyear Excellence tyres over the Chilterns many times - like a couple of times a day and they coped very well (Chilterns aren't exactly flat). I have bought some Autosocks as emergency use in extreme deep snow. Now I have them it'll never snow again north of West Sussex....

I read up about these Socks when the weather was bad this year. The downside is that as soon as you hit tarmac the socks start to get shredded. For my journey to work this winter I had 1/2 mile of snow/ice, 5 miles of clear road and then 5-6 miles of a mixture of the two. To make the socks last more than a week I would have had to keep stopping to take them on and off. They sound great to get you out of a fix and over a really tricky section of road but they are not there to last long term and not at speed.

They are good to keep in the boot for emergencies but otherwise, unfortunately, we keep coming back to better tyres to solve the problem. Interesting to read the post from James at Allams that a good regular tyre will do for most of us (not those up in the Highlands or West Wales). It is something I will think about more in future as keeping a completely separate set of winter tyres is not a viable option for most people.

I have fitted snow tyres as I swear by them in the Highlands.

Edited 13 April, 201016 yr by mannyo
Item for sale removed as you must be a freedom member to advertise

I read up about these Socks when the weather was bad this year. The downside is that as soon as you hit tarmac the socks start to get shredded. For my journey to work this winter I had 1/2 mile of snow/ice, 5 miles of clear road and then 5-6 miles of a mixture of the two. To make the socks last more than a week I would have had to keep stopping to take them on and off. They sound great to get you out of a fix and over a really tricky section of road but they are not there to last long term and not at speed.

They are good to keep in the boot for emergencies but otherwise, unfortunately, we keep coming back to better tyres to solve the problem. Interesting to read the post from James at Allams that a good regular tyre will do for most of us (not those up in the Highlands or West Wales). It is something I will think about more in future as keeping a completely separate set of winter tyres is not a viable option for most people.

I have autosocks. They work well but must be taken off as soon as you're out of the snow as you would do with chains ( can't help myself!).

Winter tyres are absolutely the best option.

John

Like mentioned, sock will shred if used on clear roads.

I bought 4 snow tyres for my Golf GTi this winter (well before the 1st snow fall). Ran the car on these till early this month, since temps started to average above 7c.

The tyres were just a punt to see how they performed against 'summer tyres'. Total cost incl VAT fitting balance etc was £59 per wheel.

Well, they were fantastic. On the day after the serious heavy snow around Basingstoke, I took wife to train station about 5 miles away on twisty hilly non gritted snow packed roads. Loads of abandoned cars, vans, lorrys,. Mine was the only car I saw all the way, there and back The other vehicles were 4x4s. Drivers were amazed a fwd car bimbling along without probs. In all the snow covered days we have had for the past 14yrs, I've nver been able to get up the drive even with a thin layer of snow. This winter with the tyres, 4" snow was no prob.

My recommendation, if budget allows, buy snow/winter tyres. . I'll be keeping the wheels with the tyres since they also fit the Yeti, which I'm hoping to order when the DSG diesel version is on offer.

I bought 4 snow tyres for my Golf GTi. Well, they were fantastic.

Totally agree. For those who've never used winter tyres on icy/snowy/slushy roads, they're unbelievable.

That's not to take anything away from Autosocks who just need a "get out of trouble" option. They're good to have in the boot.

John

Although winter tyres do make a marked improvement over normal tyres, we don't really have enough snow down our way to warrant the extra cost of the tyres. If I was going to travel to the Alps skiing or something I might be inclinded to get a set of snowsocks for the front if the snow got particulary deep and powdery.

We have ground to a halt "down here"

Mike

I reckon that James is better at selling cars than long term weather forecasting

Thanks... Now that I have the Yeti on order I just want to move to the top of a (slippery) mountain. But alas. The Mazda MX-5 certainly won't be sleeping at home then so it might not be a good idea. So perhaps best to stay down here at near sea level in the big smoke... :S

I'll get these autosocks for the next big snow then.

And re Autosocks and tarmac: so if you drive to Switzerland in the winter you can only really put them on once you get stuck! But even so. At least you can still move.

I've just ordered some Autosocks for my MX-5, basically to get me the half mile from the house to the main road - and/or get me home if the weather suddenly turns bad while I'm at work, like it did earlier this year. We're also off to northern France just before Xmas so the Autosocks will be in the back of the Yeti, just in case.

If I lived anywhere more exposed or had heavy snow more often that affected the main roads I'd probably get some winter tyres - but I can't justify the cost given the limited snow we get in Gloucestershire. My friend used Autosocks on his 3-Series last year on a skiing trip to the Alps.

I reckon that James is better at selling cars than long term weather forecasting

Especially as he couldn't get into work today!

If I lived anywhere more exposed or had heavy snow more often that affected the main roads I'd probably get some winter tyres - but I can't justify the cost given the limited snow we get in Gloucestershire. My friend used Autosocks on his 3-Series last year on a skiing trip to the Alps.

I thought winter tyres were for winter, when the temp drops below 7 degrees, not just for the few days (weeks if the news is to be believed) when it snows.

Mike

Especially as he couldn't get into work today!

To give him his due, I was told he had a half day holiday and was told not to bother coming in. Nice Boss.

I will have to talk to my boss to see if he will do the same for me. (I'm self employed )

Mike

I thought winter tyres were for winter, when the temp drops below 7 degrees, not just for the few days (weeks if the news is to be believed) when it snows.

Mike

Very true.

The 'average' daytime temperatures in Gloucestershire don't go below 7 degrees at anytime during the year. Despite the current cold snap.

http://weather.uk.msn.com/monthly_averages.aspx?wealocations=wc:UKXX0062&q=Gloucester%2c+England+forecast:averagesm

Winter tyres £500 and a second set of wheels - that's the thick end of £1000. And it's not like the grip from summer tyres drops off a cliff at 7 degrees.

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by HKPhooey

Very true.

The 'average' daytime temperatures in Gloucestershire don't go below 7 degrees at anytime during the year. Despite the current cold snap.

http://weather.uk.ms...ecast:averagesm

Winter tyres £500 and a second set of wheels - that's the thick end of £1000. And it's not like the grip from summer tyres drops off a cliff at 7 degrees.

According to that link, winter tyres would be in use for at the very least december and january as the average temp was 7degrees, which is when the winter tyres show dramatic improvement over summer tyres.

Well, if you bought now you could spend almost double that

Mike

Could get some all saason tyres as a compromise?. The Vreidstein Quadtrack 3 I have put on my 2 wd 140 dsg Octavia estate certainly seem very good in the snow and can stay on all year round.

According to that link, winter tyres would be in use for at the very least december and january as the average temp was 7degrees

Mike

Interestingly I was in my local tyre fitters at the weekend and picked up a Pirelli winter tyre leaflet, which shows that at 7 degrees C summer and winter tyres are equal in their performance. Of course this is completely academic at the moment as its minus 8C tonight! :S

At around zero degrees C on a wet road they perform 9% and below zero in the snow 19% better than summer tyres.

Edited 7 December, 201015 yr by HKPhooey